US1736810A - Compressing means for filing trays - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 26, 1929. N. s. WELK COMPRESSING MEANS FOR FILING TRAYS Filed Sept. 19, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Mm (44 BY (9% Y a? ATTORNEYS Nov. 26, 1929. N. s. WELK I COMPRESSING MEANS FOR FILING TRAYS Filed Sept. 19, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR M if t/LU, BY MM 9 I8 ATTORNEYS islocked-in, and released-from, pressure;

Patented Nov. 26, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE NELSON S. WELK, OF ATHENS, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE MCBEE BINDER COMPANY, OF ATHENS, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO COMPRESSING MEAJNS FOR FILING TRAYS Application filed September 19, 1925. Serial No. 57,299.

My invention relates to filing trays, and particularly to releasable, compressible, means for firmly holding the filed papers in position. Y

My object is to provide novel and expedient means-ufor this purpose, in which the forward presser plate and the follower plate may each be easily and quickly released from their compressing positions so'as to provide ready and convenient access to any of the filed "papers. I

My invention consists of certain details of construction hereinafter set forth, pointed out in my claims, andillustrated in the accompanymg drawings, in which 'Fig. 15 is airexploded perspective view of the' filing tray and cover, a part of the cover being broken away to-illustrate the hinging and locking means;

"'Fig. 2 is a detailed view of the wedgeshaped lever which controls the positioning of the .pre'sserplate; 1 a

Fig. 3showsTarearnelevation-view of the follower "plate andthe means by which it (Fig.4 shows a longitudinal-sectional view of the tray clearly illustrating the means for controlling the'positiom'n of both the forward presser plate and the o'l lowe'r plate, the dotted lines'indicating' the released positions of these plates,

Fig. 5 shows a perspective view of the tray,

' illustrating the controllingmeans for the follower plate; I I

Referring to the accompanying drawings, reference numeral is used to indicate a filing tray formed with the-usual sidewalls, end walls and base, and the numerahll indicates the cover therefor. The rear end wall is formed, at its top, with one element '12 ofa pivotalconnection, the companion'element13 of this pivotal connection being fixed to the cover 11. By mating these elements a pivotal connection is formed which seats the rear wall. of the cover'to' the rear wall of the tray, and when the forward end wall of thecover is locked to the forward end wall of. the tray (diagrammatic means for which is-illustrated at 14) the elements 12 and 13 are locked in position so that the cover 11 is firmly locked to the filing tray.

The follower plate 21 is hinged to a base 15 mounted, in the customary way, for slid able movement along the base of the tray, and this movement is controlled by the spring-actuated lever 16. The manner in which the base 15 is movable is not specifically described, as it will comprise the basis for a separate application, and it is only sulficient for the purposes of this application that the base be mounted for slidable and controlled movement. The numerals 17 and 18 indicate'companion angular levers, each being pivotally mounted at 19 to the common support 20. These levers are exactly the same in every respect, both as to shape and position, and are simultaneously operated and controlled. Their mounting and construction is such that when the levers are at their downward position, as shown in the full lines in Fig. 4, their forward ends force the follower plate 21 to a substantially vertical position, and'contact the same, thereby holding it in this substantially vertical position. Secured to the follower plate 21, and mounted for pivotal movement therefrom as shown at 22, is a control rod formed with two arms, 23*and 24 respectively, which project toward the angle levers, 17 and 18 re spectively, and are bent so as to form arms, '25 and 26 respectively, which pass through orifices in their respective angle'levers, 17 and 18. The construction and mounting of the angle levers, and the control rod, is such that when the angle levers have been moved downwardly to their limit of movement, as shown in Fig. 4, the control rod arms have been depressed slightly beyond a straight line between the mounting of the control rod and the pivotal mounting of-the angle levers. It is obvious this projects the pivotal connection between the control rod and the angle levers beyond the dead center, so that the angle levers are locked in this position, and, when so locked, the follower plate 21 is held forwardly to function .to compress the papers which are filed. Obvious, the follower plate may be positioned as desired in the tray by the positioning of the sliding plate 15.

The numeral 27 indicates a forward presser plate which is hinged to a support 28 mounted in the forward part of the tray, the hinge being at the base of the plate, as shown clearly in Fig. l. This support 28 preferably comprises wall, spaced from the forward wall of the tray, and through this support wall I have provided an orifice 29. A control lever 30 is mounted, for pivotal movement, parallel to the plate 27, and on the forward end of the control lever is a wedge-shaped element 31 which is positioned at right angles to the plate 27. Also secured to the plate 27 is a lug which projects forwardly through the orifice 29, and has a hook 83- formed thereon to contact the front side of the wall of the support 28, so as to negative the possibility of the plate 27 moving too far rearwardly on its hinge, when papers are not in the cabinet. The numeral 34 indicates a handle on the control. lever 30 for operating the same, and the numeral 35 indicates a stop member on the plate 27 to determine the upward and downward limits of movement of the lever 30.

The construction and positioning of the plate 27 andlever 30 are such that when the lever is moved so as tolift the wedge-shaped end 31, the plate 27 may be inclined forwardly, as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. l, so as to provide ready and convenient access to papers that are filed, or to release the pressure so papers may be inserted. When the lever 30 is moved so as to force the wedge end 31 downwardly, the wedge is insertedbetweenthe support plate 28 and the plate 27, thereby forcing the plate 27 forwardly into a substantially vertical position pressing against the papers in the tray.

From my construction the presser plate 27 and. the follower plate 21, when they are both moved and locked in their vertical positions, will hold the papers firmly in positionit, of course, being obvious that the follower plate has been moved forwardly to proper position by the positioning of the plate 15. Vl l'ien it is desired to release the pressure of the plates on the papers, the position of the plate 15 is not changed, but the operator simply lifts the ends 25 and 26 of the control lever, thus elevating the pivotal. joint between the angle levers and the control lever, which elevates the angle levers and permits the plate 21 to be movedinto its rear position, asshown by the dotted lines in Fig. 4. Thecontrol lever 30 is also moved upwardly so as. to withdraw the wedge end 31, thereby permitting the presser plate 27 to be moved forwardly, and these two plates being released simultaneously furnish mos-t ready access to the papers filed, or makes it very easy to file any papers desired.

Having thus describedmy invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. In a filing tray, a presser means comprising a support aflixed in the forward end of the tray; a plate hinged to said support, a lever having a wedge-shaped end, pivoted to said plate, so arranged that the wedge end may be forced downwardly between the plate and a wall of the support for forcing and retaining the plate in a substantially vertical position, and may be moved upwardly to withdraw the wedge end from contact with the companion wall, and thereby permit the plate to be inclined forwardly from its hinge.

2. In a filing tray, a presser means comprising a support afiixed in the forward end of the tray and having av wall spaced from the front of the tray; a plate hinged to said support, a lever, provided with a right-angular positioned wedge arm, pivotally mounted upon the said plate; a control arm secured to the said plate and projecting forwardly through a slot in the support wall, said arm being provided with a hook to contact the front side of the wall of the support and limit the movement of the plate, substantially as shown and described.

3. In a filing tray, a presser means comprising a support aflixed in the forward end of the tray; a plate hinged to said support; a wedge-shaped member secured to the plate; control means whereby the wedge-shaped member may be forced between the plate and the support to force the plate to a substantially vertical position, or withdrawn from between the plate and the support to permit the plate to be inclined forwardly, substantially as shown and described.

4. In a filingtray, a follower comprising a plate secured for slidable movement in the base of the tray; means to lock the plate in any desired position; a presser plate hinged to the slidable plate; angle levers pivotally secured to the slidable plate and projecting forwardly to the hinged plate; a control rod pivotally secured to the hinged plate and hav ing pivotal connection with the angle levers,

the construction being such that when the angle levers are moved downwardly upon their pivots they will move the hinged plate to a substantially vertical position and hold it there, and at the same time positioning the pivotal connection of the control rod below a dead center, substantially as shown. and described.

5. In a filing tray,a follower comprising a plate secured, for slidable movement, in the base of the tray; means to lock the plate in any desired position; a follower plate hinged to the slidable plate; angle levers pivotally secured to the slidable plate; a control rod pivotally secured to the follower plate and also pivotally secured to the angle levers, the construction being such that when the angle levers are in their downward position the connection of the angle levers with the control rod will be depressed below a line extendin between the connection of the control to with the follower plate and the connection of the angle levers to the slidable plate, substantially as shown and described.

NELSON S. WELK.

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